Generator system producing positionable output pulses, employing beam switching tubes and ganged rotatable switches



Jan. 19, 1965 R. K. RocKwELL 3,166,716 GENERATOR SYSTEM PRODUCINGPOSITIONABLE OUTPUT PULSES, EMPLOYING BEAM SWITCHING TUBES AND GANGEDROTATABLE SWITCHES Jan. 19, 1965 R. K. RocKwELL 3,165,716

GENERAToasYsTEn/x PRoDucING PosIToNABLE OUTPUT PULSES, EMPLOYING BEAMSWITCHINGTUBES AND GANGED ROTATABLE SWITCHES Filed Dec. ll, 1961 5Sheets-Sheet 2 .F. DOWIO Q24 0.02, 858mm i oo QN HNIOQLDLDNQID hm. mm

INVENTOR RONALD K. /OC/(WELL TTUH/VEY Jan. 19, 1965 R. K. RocKwELL3,166,716

GENERATOR SYSTEM PROOUOING POSITIONABLE OUTPUT PUEsEs, EMPLOYTNG BEAMswTTOHTNG TUBES ANO GANGEO ROTATABLE SWITCHES Filed Dec. ll, 1961 5Sheets-Sheet 3 CONTA CTS y f |/2 sw|TCH POSITION o 75 USEOS (50 LLEC)FULL swn'cH fwlPER ARM OF W'PER POSITION 25P-SECS OF 2a MOVEMENT 10o LLSEC. CONTACTS SHAFT DISPLACEMENT -l o 10o p, sEc. l I

5o E+ -5O U SEC. fui I l L l ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1965 Filed Dec. ll, 1961R. K. RocKwELl. 3,166,716 GENERATOR SYSTEM PROOUCINC POSITIONABLE OUTPUTPULSES, EMPLOYING BEAM SWITCHING TUBES AND GANGED ROTATABLE SWITCHES 5Sheets-Sheet 4 .WS -10 C T033 I367 FROM 21 A {IL I FROM CKT. 33 INPUTSFROM O To 31 l- 113 -l CONTACT OF 2O OUTPUT l 3g OF 31 1|' 1 l l l l l-1O KC |NPUTs I I FROM O 41 1 CONTACT OF 21 El INPUTSII' M140 1 FROMOKT. 33

TO 31 FROM O M42 U CONTACT OF 2O OUTPUT 43 OF 31 n I l 45 'mm-www -10 C|NPUTs I TO 33 FROM O :I1- 1144 j--l CONTACT OF 21 Q mm1-SQ*- 46 L] FROMCKT. 33

TO 31 l FROM 2O l OUTPUT 47 OF 31 e 53 n I l l l l -1O KC INPUTS I T0 33r-l I FROM O D l I 1 49 L CONTACT OF 21 l FROM CKT. 33 1N PUITS 50 LI TO1 FROM 1 I U14@ L CONTACT OF 2o OUTPUT 5l OF 31 552 t I L- INPUTs l L] Il L L I L] L l I l l l 10 KC To 33 B l FROM 21 i I I TS I FROM CKT. 33 ENPU FROM 1 To 3l m54 1 i- CONTACT OF 2O OUTPUT I 56 I OF 31 l L l 55ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1965 R. K. RocKwELL 3,166,716

onucms PosITIoNABLa OUTPUT GENERATOR SYSTEM PR PULSES, EMPLOYING BEAMSWITCHING TUBES AN GANGED ROTATABLE SWITCHES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec.ll, 1961 All# .umm i o2 w NNN .0mm i omit-ITI w N: .oww i o2 1v L Alommi om QR r u m9 n E .n s s ol 5&3@ n

ll IV ull- .umm i oom!! @NTP 1 .0mm 1003i mb] lNvENToR. RONALD K.Roc/WELL BY mn Fxo OP wFDaZ- electronic time measurements art.

United States Patent Oce 3,166,715 Patented Jan. 19, 1965 3,165,716GENERATR SYSTEM PRODUCING POSITION- ABLE GUTPUT PULSES, EMPLYING 'BEAMThe present invention generally relates to devices for producingcontrollably delayed pulses and, more particularly, to a generator forproducing a pulse which may be controllably delayed to occur at any oneof a very large number of precise time increments within an extendedtime interval.

Delayed pulse generators are widely employed in the Such generators areutilized, for example, in loran receivers as timing standards foraccurately determining the time dierence between the receptions of pulsetransmissions issuing from a plurality of predetermined locations. Thetime difference measurement, as is well known, establishes the locationof the receiver relative to the known transmitter sites.

Conventional loran systems operate at carrier frequencies of about 2megacycles per second to afford ground wave navigational signal coverageover a service area having a radius of approximately 600 to 700 nauticalmiles as measured from the transmitter locations. Due to the relativelyrestricted service area of conventional loran systems and the pulsedelay transmitter identification coding used, the time interval betweenthe receptions of the transmitter pulses at the loran receiversordinarily is no greater than about 20,000 microseconds.

More recently, extended range loran navigational systems of improvedaccuracy have been placed into operation. The extended range systemsoperate at low carrier frequencies of about 100 kilocycles per secondand are used to determine receiver positions (relative to the locationsof the transmitters) at ranges up to about 1,200 nautical miles ascompared to the aforementioned 600 to 700 nautical mile coverage of thehigher frequency conventional loran system.

The substantially enlarged areas serviced by the extended range loransystems and the elimination of the pulse delay coding for transmitteridentification have increased the maximum time difference between thereceptions of the transmitter pulses at the receiver to approximately100,000 microseconds in contrast to the maximum time difference of about20,000 microseconds encountered in the earlier loran systems.

The ve fold increase in the maximum time difference measurement intervalhas created the need for receiver timing pulse generators capable ofproducing pulses which may be controllably delayed and preciselypositioned at any one of avery large number of time increments within atotal time interval of, for example, 100,000 microseconds. It isimportant, of courseythat the increaseddelay and the pulse positioning,accuracy requirements 4be met without resort to extrapolations of priorart techniques which would engender undue circuit complications andreduce system reliability.

` One object of the present invention is to provide a generator forproducing a controllably delayed output pulse which may be accuratelypositioned at any one of a very large number of time increments withinan extended total timeA interval.

Another object is to provide a pulse generator for producing an outputpulse whose time position may be changed in precisely controlledincremental amounts.

An additional object is to provide a delayed pulse generator responsiveto input signals derived from a cascaded series of beam switching tubes.

A further object is to provide a generator for producing a series ofpulsed signals having leading edges occurring at accurate determinabletimes.

These and other objects of the present invention, as

will appear from the following specification, are accomplished in apreferred embodiment by the provision of a cascaded series of pulsecounting devices, a ganged pluralityof multiple-position rotary switchesand a network of logical decision circuits which coact to produce anoutput pulse occurring at a time determined in accordance with theposition of the ganged rotary switches. In accordance with the preferredembodiment, each of the pulse counting devices consists of a decade beamswitching tube having l0 output terminals which are energized insequence at a rate determined by the frequency of an applied drivingsignal. The driving signal for each successive beam switching tube isderived from a predetermined output terminal of its respective precedingbeam switching tube. The first tube of the cascaded chain of beamswitching tubes is driven by a timing oscillator. Each of the cascadedtubes divides the frequency of its respectiveinput signal by a factor of10.

A pair of ganged rotary decade switches is provided for each of thebeamswitching tubes. Each switch pair is connected to the output terminalsof va respective beam switching tube. Each switch connects one of saidoutput terminals'to a logical decision circuit inaccordancewith thevangular displacement or setting of the switch. The circuit associatedwith a succeeding beam switching tube also receives signals derived fromspecially combined outputs of the respective preceding beam switchingtube. Each logical decisioncircuit produces a series of output pulseshaving leading edges occurring at times accurately controlled inaccordance with the angular displacement of the associated rotaryswitch. The outputs of the decision circuits then are combined toproduce a single pulse which may be accurately delayed within anextended time interval in accordance with the angular displacement ofall the ganged rotary switches. n

For more complete understanding of the present invention referenceshould be had to the following specification and lto the appendedfigures of which:

FIGS. la and lb together comprise a schematic diagram of a preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram depicting the pertinent dimensions of therotary switches Yutilized -in the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a series of idealized waveforms useful in explaining theoperation of a typical logical decision circuit as Vthe angulardisplacement of the associated switch is varied; v

FIG. 4 is a series of idealized waveforms illustrating the outputsignals generated by the logical decision circuit associated with thewaveforms of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is auseries of idealized waveforms representing the manner'inwhich'the outputs of the individual logical circuits are combinedtoproduce an accurately positionable single pulse within an extended timeinterval. i

Referring to FIG. 1a, the reference numeral 1 generally represents asource of timing pulseshaving the illustrative repetition ratefof 100kilocycles per second. The pulses produced by oscillator 1 are appliedto cascaded conventional pulse counting stages 2 and 3 which divide the.repetition rate of oscillator 1 by factors of 5 and` 2 respectively.Pulse counting stage 3 may comprise a conventional bistablemultivibrator which produces a pair of output square waves in phaseopposition with respect to each other and having a repetition rate of 10kilocycles per second. The phases of the output square ciated with thefollowing (next) spade.

y spade to the next succeeding even spade.

waves are arbitrarily designated -land respectively, the +10 kc. wavebeing applied to beam switching tube driver 4 and the l0 lic. Wave beingapplied to line S.

Driver 4 also may comprise a conventional bistable multivibrator toproduce a pair ot oppositely phased output square waves on lines d and'7, respectively, at the frequency of 5 kilocycles per second. Theoppositely phased Waves of lines 6 and 7 are. applied to beam switchingtube S` in a conventional manner to advance the beam from one to thenext succeeding one of the ten output terminals l to 9inclusive. As iswell understood, a beam switching tube includes a cathode and lO groupsof electrodes, one for each beam position, Each electrode group consistsof aswitching grid, a spade (which forms and locks the beam, and atarget (which is a low impedance, current output electrode). To clearthe tube, a positive pulse may be applied to the cathode. To form thebeam from cut-off, a negative pulse must be applied to the spadeelectrode on which beam formation is desired.

The beam may be advanced from one output electrode to the next'byapplying a negative pulse to the grid asso Conveniently the grids aretied together into two sets, one set being the grids associated with theodd spades, the other set being the grids associated with the evenspades. The pulsing of the even grids will advance the beam from an oddThe pulsing of the odd grids will advance the beam from an even spade tothe next succeeding odd spade. Beam switching tube S is pulsed in thismanner by applying the 5 kc. square wave on line d to the even set ofgrids and by applying the 5 kesquare Wave on line 7 to the odd set ofgrids. Thus, in response to each of the 10 kc. pulses at the input ofdriver 4, the'beam of tube S is advanced trom its v presentv position tothe position of the next succeeding spade (output terminal).

It will be seen that each signal appearing at the output terminals @-9of tube S is 100 microseconds in duration.

Ten such pulses are produced during each complete switching cycle for atotal of 1,000 microseconds per switching cycle.

The 100 microsecond pulses sequentially appearing at output terminals@-9 of tube S are applied via lines 1li-19, inclusive, to the stationarycontacts of rotary switches 2t), 21, 22 and 23. The individual contactsare numbered in accordance with the number of the output terminal oftube 8 to which they are connected. Each of rotary switches Ztl-23further includes a rotatable wiper memberpositioned in accordance withshaft 2d. The angular displacement of shaft 24 is set by handwheel 25and dis played by delay indicator 26. Each of the ganged rotatablemembers 27, 2S, 29 and 30 are driven through the same angle by a givenmovement of shaft 24; however, members 29 and 3i) are permanently phasedso as to be substantially 180 degrees angularly displaced relative tomembers 27 and 28 respectively.

Indicator 26 is calibrated to display a numerical change of 1,000ymicroseconds for each complete revolution of shaft 24 and members27-3tl. Accordingly, each of the stationary cont-acts of switches 2li-23is angularly displaced froin the adjacent contactsby an amountproportional to 100 microseconds as displayed by indicator 2e. Thearcuate extent Vof each wiper blade is effectively 3%: of thedisplacement betweenthe adjacent stationary contacts. That is, thearcuate extent is 75 microseconds ot the 100 microseconds displacementbetween the adjacent stationary contacts. Thewviper blade of member Z8is out of angular phase (alignment) with respect to member 27 by onehalf of one switch position (50 microseconds of shaft rotation). Thewiper blade of member E@ is similarly out of phase with respect to thewiper blade of member 29.

The above relations-hips between the stationary contacts and therotatable wiper blades are shown more clearly in FIG. 2. By reference toFIG. 2, it will be seen that either wiper is disconnected from astationary contact only during the middle third (25 microseconds ofshait rotation) of the other wipers contact period. For example, aswiper 27 starts the last third of its "making period with contact il,wiper 28 closes with its same ii numbered contact. Both wipers ridealong these same numbered (il) contacts tor 25 microseconds ofadditional angular shaft rotation until wiper 27 breaks contact with thecontact il. inasmuch as the leading edge of the wiper 27 (75microseconds wide) is still 25 microseconds from the next Contact (l),wiper 28 alone makes contact for the next 25 additional microsecondsrotation which cornprise the middle 25 microseconds of its contactperiod.

As the wipers complete the last stated 25 microseconds or" rotation,wiper 27 closes the distance to the next contact (l) and both Wipers 27and 2S malte Contact simultaneously for the following 25 microseconds ofrotation. lt should be noted, however, that wiper 27 is now contactingcontact l whereas wiper 28 is still contacting contact il. At the end ofthis time, Wiper ZS completes the final third of its contact period withcontact il and becomes disconnected from contact 0. During the next 25microseconds oi rotation, only wi er 27 maires contact. At the end ofthis 25 microseconds, the cycle of malte and break just describedrepeats with wiper 28 making contact with the next successive Contact(l) along its circle oi movement.

The pulse, if any, developed on the rotatable member 27 of switch Zi)(when the wiper contacts a stationary Contact) is applied to amplier 3lby line 32.. Fthe pulse signal, if any, developed on rotating member 2Sof switch 21 is applied to AND circuit 33 by line 34. The -lO kc. squarewave of line 5 is also applied to AND circuit 33.

The manner in which the pulsed signals developed on members 27 and 28are combined in the logical circuit comprising amplier 3l and circuit 33will be better understood by reference to the idealized waveforms ofFIG. 3. It is arbitrarily assumed that members 27 and initially are atsuch positions that the wiper ot member 27 has just completed the iirstthird of its contact period on contact 0 and the wiper of member 28 hasjust completed the last third oi its Contact period on Contact it.Consequently, circuit 33 receives the l0 kc. square wave 35 via line 5but receives no pulsed signal via line 34 from open switch 2l. Theabsence ot a pulsed signal is represented by the horizontal line 3d inFlG. 3A. inasmuch as circuit 33 conducts only during simultaneousnegative excursions of the input signals, no output signal is producedon line 37. The sole input to amplifier El is the 10i) microsecond pulseli?, appearing on line 32 each time that line ld at the output of tube dis pulsed. Thus, the microsecond pulse 38 is produced on line 39 at theoutput of amplifier 3l. Pulse 3S is opposite in polarity to pulse 37 dueto the signal inversion of ampliller 31.

The waveforms depicted in FIG. 3A persist for 25 microseconds ofadditional shaft rotation until the wiper of member 28 reaches contactil of switch 2l.. At this time, the wiper of member 27 is stillconnected to con tact il of switch 2i). This situation is depicted inthe waveforms of FIG. 3B. Circuit 33 produces the negative-going 50microsecond pulse dit during the simultaneous negative excursions of the1G kc4 square wave and pulse 4l received from the tl contact of switch21. Pulse d@ is applied to amplifier 3l along with the negativegoingpulse 42 from the l? contact of switch E@ to produce the lll()microsecond pulse 43 at the output of amplifier 3l. it should be notedthat the 50 microsecond pulse it? occurs during the same time as doesthe 10i) microsecond pulse 42. Therefore, the output of amplifier 3l(pulse- 43) is the same as the output pulse 3S represented in FlG. 3A.

Upon an additional 25 microseconds of shaft rotation, the wiper member27 breaks contact with Contact.

0 of switch 20, removing one of the inputs to amplifier 31. Thiscondition is reflected in the waveforms of FIG. 3C. The Wiper of member28, however, continues to touch contact 0 of switch 21 to apply pulse 44to circuit 33 along with the -10 kc. square wave 45. Accordingly, the 50microsecond pulse 46 is produced at the output of circuit 33 and appliedto amplifier 31 to produce the pulse 47 at the output of amplifier 31.It should be observed that'the 'leading edge of pulse 47 now isdisplaced 50 microseconds later than the leading edge of pulses 38 and43 of FIGS. 3A and 3B respectively. In other words, `the leading edgehas been delayed by 50 microseconds in response to a 50 microsecondequivalent rotation of shaft 24. 2

The waveform of FIGS. 3D and 3E depicts the condition obtaining at theinput and output of amplifier 31 and circuit 33 following successiveadditional shaft displacements of 25 microseconds each. In the case ofFIG. 3D, the wiper of member l27 has begun its contacting period withcontact 1 of switch 20 to produce the 100 microsecond pulse 48 at theinput of amplifier 31. The Wiper of member 28 still touches contact 0 ofswitch 21 to produce pulse 49 at the input of circuit 33. Accordingly,the 50 microsecond pulse 50 is produced at the output of circuit 33 andthe 150 microsecond pulse 51 is produced at the output of amplifier 31.The leading edge 52 of pulse 51, however, has not been delayed relativeto edge 53 of pulse 47 FIG. 3C.

In the next 25 microseconds of shaft rotation, the wiper of member 28breaks with contact 0 of switch 21. The wiper of-member 27 maintainscontact with Contact 1 of switch 20 to produce pulse 54 at the input ofamplifier 31. The leading edge 55 of pulse 56 at the output of amplier31 now is displaced 50 microseconds from the leading edge 52 of outputpulse 51 FIGURE 3D. The cycle of operation represented in FIGS.3A-3E'has now been completed and begins anew in the manner shown inresponse to further angular displacement of shaft 24.

'I'he idealized waveform of FIG. 4 summarize the pulsed signalconditions at the output of amplifier 31 subsequent to each 50microsecond angular displacement of shaft 24 by control wheel 25. Itwill be seen that the leading edges of the output pulses are delayed 50microseconds in response to each 50 microsecond incremental rotation ofshaft 24.

`Wiper members 29 and 30 of switches 22 and 23, in conjunction withamplifier 57 and AND circuit 58, operate in a manner equivalent to thatdescribed in connection with members 27 and 28 of switches 20, and 21.However, wipers 29 and 30 are angularly displaced by 180 degreesrelative to members 27 and 28, respectively. Consequently, the outputpulses of amplifier 57 are displaced by 500 microseconds from the outputpulses of amplifier 31. The displaced outputs of amplifier 57 arerepresented by the dotted pulses shown in the waveforms of FIG. 4. Bysumming the outputs of amplifiers 31 .and 57 in summing circuit 59,there is obtained'a continuous series of pulses having positionableleading edges 'displaced from each other by the constant amount of 500microseconds. All of the leading edges may be positioned simultaneouslyin 50 microsecond time increments by the rotation of handwheel 25. Itshould be noted that the 50 microsecond increments are preciselydetermined by the occurrences of the leading and trailing `edges of thekc. square wave derived Yfrom oscillator 1 and dividers 2 and 3. i

The remaining circuit components of FIGS. la and lb are used to select aparticular one of the positionable output pulses of amplifier 31 in anextended time period of the order ofabout 100,000 microseconds. Theselected pulse is produced at the output pulse of AND circuit 60. Theoutput pulses of switches 61, 62, 63 and 64 and the associated logicaldecisioncircuits along with the output of amplifier 31 are applied toAND circuit 60. When all three of the inputs (lines 39, 65 and 66) aresimultaneously negative, the selected pulse is pro.

Correspondingly, the wiper arms of members 67 and` 68 are each 750microseconds (of shaft rotation) wide and 1000 microseconds apart fromeach other. Said arms turn in the same manner as the arms of switches20-23 with each wiper arm breaking and remaking during the middle thirdof the other arms contact period. The wiper arms are turned by shaft 70which is driven by shaft 24 via the 10 to 1 gear train 71. The l0 Ito 1gear ratio corresponds to the 10 to 1 frequency division ratio obtainingbetween the outputs of beam switching tubes 8 and 69. Tube 69 is steppedby driver 72 in response to successive pulses appearingV at the 0 outputterminal of the proceeding beam switching tubeY 8.

AND circuits 73 and 74 receive the outputs of the switches 61 and 62,respectively, together with two l kc. square waves of opposite polarity.OR circuit 75 produces one or" the l kc. square Waves whereas OR circuit76 produces the l kc. square Wave of opposite polarity. The square wavefrom OR circuit 75 is negative during the first half of each 1,000microsecond repetition interval, whereas the square wave from OR circuit7 6 is negative during the second 500 microseconds portion of saidinterval. This follows from the fact that one of the outputs 0 4inclusive of tube 8 (applied to circuit 75) is negative during the first500 microseconds whereas one of the outputs 5-9 inclusive (applied tocircuit 76) is negative during the second 500 microseconds or" each1,000 microsecond repetition interval.

A 1000 microsecond negative output pulse successively appears on 4lines77, 73, 79, 30, 81, S2, 83, 84, 35 and 66 in accordance with thestepping of beam switching tube 69. Thus, when the wiper arm of switch61 is connected to one of the outputs 0-9 of tube 69, only the first 500microseconds of the 1000 microsecond output pulse is passed by ANDcircuit 73. Similarly, when the wiper arm of switch 62 is connected toone of the outputs of tube 69, only the second 500 microseconds of theoutput pulse is passed by AND circuit 74.

The pulses which are applied to and produced by cir` cuits 73 and 74 aredepicted in waveforms 114-119 of FIG. 5 for the switch positions shownin FIG. 1. Inasmuch as the wiper of switch 61 has just made contact withthe 0 output of tube 69, shaft 24 must be turned through the rotationalequivalent of 250 microseconds before the wiper arm of 62 breaks withthe number 9 out-l put of tube 69. An additional 250 microseconds(making a total displacement increment of 500 microseconds) is requiredbefore the wiper arm of switch 62 makes contact with the 0 output oftube 69 to produce the dotted output pulses 87 in waveform 119 of FIG.5.

Switches 63 and 64, in conjunction with OR circuits 38 and 89, ANDcircuits 9fb'and 91, and amplifier 92 operate Vin a manner identical tothat just described in connection with switches 61 and 62. OR circuits88 and 89, Yhowever, produce out-of-phase 100 c.p.s. square waves havingnegative excursions of 5,000 microseconds for apv plication to ANDcircuits 90 and 91. Circuits 90 and 91 also receive the output pulses ofbeam switching tube 93 through switches 63 and 64. Tube 93, like tubev69, is driven by the 0 output of its preceding beam switching tube. Therotary members of switches 63 and 64, like members 67 and 66 of switches61 and 62, are driven thru a 10 to l gear train (120) connecting withthe shaft (70) remains fixed in time.

with the leading edges thereof. ftion is that the positionable outputpulse is always produced irrespective of the particular angular settingof 'i of 10,000 microseconds duration successively appears on the outputlines @fl-ldd as tube 93 is driven by driver iii-i. ltwill be seen thata series of 5,000'microsecond pulses (first half of the 10,000microsecond pulse passed by switch 63 when closed) 4is produced by ANDgate 90 and applied to amplifier 92. Similarly, a series of 5,000microsecond pulses (second half of the 10,000 microsecond pulses derivedfrom switch o4) is produced by AND gate 91 and applied to ampliiier 92.First one, then both, then the other, and then both of AND gates 90 and9i provide outputs to ampliiier 92 as shaft 2d is rotated in a givendirection.' Waveform ltlS of FlG. 5 depicts the output from ampliiier 92in the case where both AND circuits 90 andi/)1 are producing outputs.Similarly, waveform 06 represents the output from amplifier l0? whenboth AND circuits 73 and '74 are producing outputs.

As previously discussed, AND circuit 60 receives the output fromampliliers 31, 107 and 92. The three outputs are simultaneously positiveonly once during the illustrative repetition interval of 100,000microseconds of the disclosed embodiment. Circuit 60, of course, con-Yducts onlyfor the duration oi the shortest of the three inputs, thisbeing the pulse 108 ot FIG. 5 derived from the amplifier 31. The pulseoutput from circuit 60 is shown to scale in waveform 109 and inmagniiied time scale in waveform 110.

It will zbe recognized that waveform il@ is similar to pulse 38 ot FIG.3A discussed previously in connection with the operation of switches and2l. As shaft 2d is displaced the equivalent of 50 microseconds from theposition which produces output waveform 110, the output of amplifier 3lchanges to the one represented by pulse 47 in FIG. 3C. Circuit 60, inturn, would produce the output waveform 111 of FIG. 5 because theoutputs from amplifiers 107 and 02 would remain the same as waveforms106 and 105 -for such an additional 50 microseconds of shaft rotation.

More generally, the leading and trailing edges of the output pulseproduced by AND circuit 60 moves along the time axis, in response to therotation of shaft 24, in a manner somewhat similar to the movement ofthe extremities of an inch worm. For example, let it -be assumed that anoutput pulse similar to pulse 5l of FIG. 3D is produced by circuit 60 ata given angular setting of shaft 24. lf said shaft is rotated through anincrement of microseconds, the leading edge of the output waveform jumps50 microseconds along the time axis to produce a pulse similar to pulse110 of FIG. 5. It should be noted that only the leading edge has moved,the trailing edge remaining fixed in time. As shaft 24 is displacedthrough an additional 50 microseconds of rotation, the leading edge ofthe pulse from circuit 60 jumps an additional 50 microseconds to producea pulse similar to pulse lll of FIG. 5. Again, however, the trailingedge of the output wave form At the end of another 25 microseconds shaftdisplacement, the trailing edge of the output wave form. jumps 100microseconds along the time axis while thev leading edge remains iixedin time to produce a pulse similar to pulse i12 of FIG. 5. The foregoingcycle of movements of the edges of the output pulse from circuit 60repeats for addition displacements of shaft 24 whereby the leading edgethereof advances in 5 0 microsecond jumps in response to each full 50microsecond shaft displacement as shown by delay indicator 26.

From the lpreceding specification it will be seen that the presentinvention produces a series of output pulses having precisely definedleading edges which are positionable in small equal time increments inresponse to the angular movement of a single input shaft. If desired,the output wave form may be further processed by a differentiating andclipping network to produce asingle pulse coincident A feature of theinvenshaft 2.4 by control wheel V25; There is no setting of wheel 25 atwhich no output pulse is produced. The precise time delay correspondingto the time position ot the output pulse (within the predeterminedextended time interval) is displayed by delay indicator 26 at all times.

While the invention has been described in its preferred embodiments, itis understood that the words which have been used are words ofdescription rather than of limitation and that changes within thepurview of the appended claims may be made without departing from thetrue scope and spirit of the invention in its broader aspects.

What is claimed is:

l. A delayed pulse generator comprising a source of successive timingsignals,

multiple output switching means coupled to said source for sequentiallyenergizing each output in response to said successive timing signals,

a pair of ganged rotatable switches, each switch having multiple inputcontacts and a rotor contact, one input contact of each switch beingconnected to a respective output of said multiple output means, therotor contacts of said switches being out of phase relative to eachother by a iixed angular amount irrespective of the rotation of saidrotor contacts,

an AND circuit connected to the rotor Contact of one of said switches,said AND circuit being connected to receive said timing signals,

and summing means connected to the output of said AND circuit and therotor contact of the other of said switches.

2. A delayed pulse generator as defined in claim l wherein said multipleoutput switching means is a beam switching tube.

3. A delayed pulse generator comprising a timing signal sourceproducing, iirst, second and third repetitive signals, the duration ofsaid second signal being equal to a portion of the repetition intervalof said first signal and the duration of said third signal being equalto the remainder of said repetition interval,

multiple output switching means coupled to receive said lirst signal forsequentially energizing each output in response to said iirst signal,

a pair of ganged rotatable switches, each switch having multiple inputcontacts and a rotor contact, one input Contact of each switch beingconnected to a respective output of said multiple output means, therotor contacts of said switches being out of phase relative to eachother by a fixed angular amount,

a pair of AND circuits respectively connected to the rotor contacts ofsaid switches, one of said AND circuits being connected to receive saidsecond signal and the other of said AND circuits being connected toreceive said third signal,

and means for summing the outputs of said AND circuits.

4. A delayed pulse generator as dened in claim 3 wherein the durationsof each of said second and third signals is one half of the repetitioninterval of said rst signal.

5. A delayed pulse generator as defined in claim 3 wherein said multipleoutput switching means is a beam switching tube.

6. A delayed pulse generator comprising a source of successive timingsignals,

a irst multiple output switching means coupled to said source forsequentially energizing each output in response to said successivetiming signals,

a rst pair of ganged rotatable switches, each switch having multipleinput contacts and a rotor contact, one input contact of each first pairof rotatable switches being connected to a respective output of said rstmultiple output means, the rotor contacts of said first pair ofrotatable switches being out of phase relative to each other by a iixedangular amount,

a first AND circuit connected to the rotor contact of one of said firstpair of rotatable switches, said AND circuit being connected to receivesaid timing signals,

a second multiple output switching means connected to be driven by oneof the outputs of said first multiple output switching means,

a first OR circuit connected to some of the outputs of said firstmultiple output means,

a second OR circuit connected to the remainder of the outputs of saidfirst multiple output means,

a second pair of ganged rotatable switches, each switch having multipleinput contacts and a rotor contact, one input contact of each secondpair of rotatable switches being connected to a respective output ofsaid second multiple output means, the rotor contacts of said secondpair of rotatable switches being out of phase relative to each other bya fixed angular amount, said second rotatabie switches being coupled forrotation at a fraction of the angular rate of said first rotatableswitches,

second and third AND circuits respectively connected to the rotorcontacts of said second rotatable switches, said second AND circuitbeing connected to the output of one of said OR circuits, said third ANDcircuit being connected to the output of the other of said OR circuits,

and combining means connected to the outputs of said first, second andthird AND circuits and the rotor contact of the other of said first pairof rotatable switches.

7. A delayed pulse generator as defined in claim 6 wherein said firstand second multiple output switching means comprise first and secondbeam switching tubes connected in cascade.

8. A delayed pulse generator comprising a source of successive timingsignals,

multiple output switching means coupled to said source for sequentiallyenergizing each output in response to said successive timing signals,

a pair of multiple contact ganged rotatable switches, one input Contactof each switch being connected to a respective output of said multipleoutput means, each of said switches including a rotatable wiper memberhaving an arcuate extent less than the separation between the adjacentcontacts of said switches, said wiper members being out of angularalignment relative to each other by a fixed amount irrespective of therotation of said wiper members,

an AND circuit connected to the wiper of one of said switches, said ANDcircuit being connected to receive said timing signal,

and signal combining means connected to the output of said AND circuitand to the wiper of the other of said switches.

9. A delayed pulse generator as defined in claim 8 and further includingmeans for indicating the angular position of said wiper members.

10. A delayed pulse generator comprising a source of successive timingsignals, multiple output switching means coupled to said source forsequentially energizing each output in response to said successivetiming signals,

a first and a second pair of ganged rotatable switches, each switchhaving multiple input contacts and a rotor contact, one input contact ofeach switch being connected to a respective output of said multipleoutput means, the rotor contacts of said first pair of switches beingout of phase relative to each other by a first fixed angular amount, therotor contacts of said second pair of switches being out of phaserelative to each other by said first fixed angular amount, and the rotorcontacts of said second pair of switches being out of angular phase withrespect to the rotor contacts of said first pair lof switches by asecond fixed `angular amount, said first and second angular amountsbeing fixed irrespective of the rotation of said rotor contacts,

a first AND circuit connected to the roto-r contact 0f one of said firstpair of switches,

a second AND circuit connected to the rotor contact of one of saidsecond pair of switches, said first and second AND circuits beingconnected to receive said timing signals,

and sum means connected to the outputs of said first and second ANDcircuits and the rotor contacts of the others of said first and secondpairs of switches.

l1. A delayed pulse generator as defined in claim 10 wherein said secondfixed angular amount is substantially l2. A delayed pulse generatorcomprising a timing signal source producing first, second and thirdrepetitive signals, the duration of said second signal being equal to aportion of the repetition interval of said rst signal and the durationof said third `signal being equal to the remainder of said repetitioninterval,

a first multiple output switching means coupled to receive said firstsignal for sequentially energizing each output in response to said firstsignal,

a first pair of ganged rotatable switches, each switch having multipleinput contacts and a rotor contact, one input contact of each first pairof rotatable switches being connected to a respective output of saidfirst multiple output means, the rotor contacts of said first pair ofrotatable switches being out of phase relative to each other by a fixedangular amount.

first and second AND circuits respectively connected to the rotorcontacts of said first rotatable switches, said first AND circuit beingconnected tot receive said second signal and said second AND circuitbeing connected to receive said third signal,

a second multiple output switching means connected to be driven by oneof the outputs of said first multiple output switching means,

a first OR circuit connected to some of the outputs of said firstmultiple output means,

a second OR `circuit connected to the remainder of the outputs of saidfirst multiple output means,

a second pair of ganged rotatable switches, each switch having multipleinput contacts and a rotor contact, one input contact of each secondpair of rotatable switches being connected to a respective output ofsaid second multiple output means, the` rotor contacts of said secondpair of switches being out of phase relative to each other by a fixedangular amount, said second rotatable switches being coupled forrotation at a fraction of the angular rate of said first rotatableswitches,

third and fourth AND circuits respectively connected to the rotorcontacts of said second rotatable switches, said third AND circuit beingconnected to the output of one of said OR circuits, said fourth ANDcircuit being connected to the output of the `other of said OR circuits,

and means for combining the outputs of said first, second, third andfourth AND circuits.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS PriceMay 7, 1963

1. A DELAYED PULSE GENERATOR COMPRISING A SOURCE OF SUCCESSIVE TIMINGSIGNALS, MULTIPLE OUTPUT SWITCHING MEANS COUPLED TO SAID SOURCE FORSEQUENTIALLY ENERGIZING EACH OUTPUT IN RESPONSE TO SAID SUCCESSIVETIMING SIGNALS, A PAIR OF GANGED ROTATABLE SWITCHES, EACH SWITCH HAVINGMULTIPLE INPUT CONTACTS AND A ROTOR CONTACT, ONE INPUT CONTACT OF EACHSWITCH BEING CONNECTED TO A RESPECTIVE OUTPUT OF SAID MULTIPLE OUTPUTMEANS, THE ROTOR CONTACTS OF SAID SWITCHES BEING OUT OF PHASE RELATIVETO EACH OTHER BY A FIXED ANGULAR AMOUNT IRRESPECTIVE OF THE ROTATION OFSAID ROTOR CONTACTS, AN AND CIRCUIT CONNECTED TO THE ROTOR CONTACT OFONE OF SAID SWITCHES, SAID AND CIRCUIT BEING CONNECTED TO RECEIVE SAIDTIMING SIGNALS, AND SUMMING MEANS CONNECTED TO THE OUTPUT OF SAID ANDCIRCUIT AND THE ROTOR CONTACT OF THE OTHER OF SAID SWITCHES.